BErsih 3.0 : Independen​t Investigat​ion Panel To Be Announced Next Week: Najib

May 4, 2012

PUTRAJAYA, May 3- The members of the independent investigation panel set up to probe all incidents that occurred during the rally organised by the non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and opposition parties last Saturday, are expected to be announced next week. Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak said the relevant party was looking for the right people to become members of the investigation panel.

“I support the formation of the panel, that’s why we brought up the matter to the cabinet and the decision to form the panel was also made by the cabinet.

“I have also discussed with (Home Minister) Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and we are looking for the right people to become members, maybe we can announce it next week,” he said at a press conference, here today.

Commenting on who would become members of the panel, Najib said they would certainly be among those who had credibility, experience, as well as individuals who commanded the respect of the community and had a deep understanding of the tasks of the policemen.

Meanwhile, when commenting on the incident that happened at the public rally, the Prime Minister said the root cause of all the problems was the rejection by the organisers of the government’s offer to have it in the Stadium Merdeka or Stadium Negara. Najib also said that if only people could observe the principles and spirit of the Peaceful Assembly Act, this thing would not have happened.

“That’s why we adopted the Peaceful Assembly Act for the very reason to avoid all this incidents because when you have street demonstration, there will be incidents,” he added.

“This incident is not new in every country. When you have street demonstrations, there will be incidents even in United Kingdom, United States, it is not just in Malaysia that an incident like this can happen,” he said. Commenting on whether he was personally keeping in eye at the police investigation regarding the incidents that happened at the rally, “Oh yes, the whole government is keeping an eye, the public is keeping an eye”.

Najib said: “There might be some allegations, that’s why we wanted to avoid street demonstrations. If only the organisers had listened to us, this thing would not have happened at all, nobody would be injured.”